The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1818

[1818. Chapter 1729 Pie in the sky]

When Zhu Houzhao saw Chen Yan’s face was bruised and red, he was in a happy mood and was about to give Fang Jifan a helping hand.

Chen Yan was unwilling to give up. At this point, it seemed that the only thing he could do was… the fish was dead and the net was broken.

But at this moment, someone outside said: “Cabinet scholar Liu Jian and Li Dongyang have arrived.”

After saying that, the two came in one after another and led the ministers from various ministries into the exchange. Seeing that Chen Yan was still alive, they felt sad in their hearts. Take a breath.

When Liu Jian and others heard that hundreds of officials were coming to greet him, they felt that something was wrong.

They know the temper of the current emperor best. If he touches Ni Lin now, Chen Yan will most likely be in trouble.

Although I think Chen Yan is a troublesome person, but after all, he is the imperial censor. If something happens to His Majesty, it will only shake the world again.

Although Chen Yan’s death is not a pity, if the emperor’s reputation is damaged because of Chen Yan’s death, this is something that a minister would not want to see.

When Liu Jian arrived in front of Zhu Houzhao, he quickly bowed down and said, “I have seen your majesty.”

When Zhu Houzhao saw Liu Jianlai, he behaved more politely and had a gentler face: “Master Liu, why are you here?”

Liu Jian said: “Your majesty… The old minister is also here to greet the Holy Emperor. Your Majesty has been away from the palace these days, and the old minister is feeling uneasy. I beg your majesty to return to the palace so that all the people in the world can feel at ease. “

This is not offensive to my ears.

Zhu Houzhao said: “Go back as soon as you can. It’s just that Chen Yan is here to accuse me of being unethical. I must punish him. Master Liu is here at the right time. I want to ask, what crime should he be punished for?”

Liu Jian He sighed in his heart, but said hurriedly: “Your Majesty, Chen Yan is the censor, so he is not guilty of any crime. What’s more… the old minister knows that he is welcoming him for the sake of the court and your majesty. He has done nothing wrong. I beg your majesty to forgive me. “

Zhu Houzhao seemed unhappy.

In front of so many people, he couldn’t stand down, and now he was expected to forgive this person?

He wanted to forgive, but the problem is that if he forgives today, tomorrow many censors will do the same thing again. If he doesn’t show Chen Yan any color today, he will kill the chicken to scare the monkey. From now on, he will have to obey these censors in everything. .

Zhu Houzhao did not want to repeat the mistakes of his father.

But…in front of Liu Jian, he didn’t know how to say it.

Fang Jifan, who was beside him, seemed to have guessed what Zhu Houzhao was thinking, and said: “Your Majesty has been studying the construction of locomotives these days. It is precisely because of this new steam locomotive that the speed and cargo capacity have been greatly improved, so that everyone in the world has I am optimistic about the railway currently being built by the imperial court. Liu Gong, Li Gong, and Xishan Jianye’s market value has skyrocketed. This railway… has gained more than 10 million taels of funds, and this… is all hollowed out by your majesty these days. The result of thinking hard about building a car, but this Chen Yan… actually accused the emperor of not doing his job properly. Liu Gong, Li Gong, you have tried hard to comment on it. Is this reasonable in the world? “

What…

Sure enough, Yin Zi ?”

It has always been the most shocking.

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang looked at each other, feeling overwhelmed deep in their hearts.

More than ten million taels of silver.

Just in the blink of an eye?

The benefits of railways can be seen. Nowadays, in the civil and military circles of the Manchu Dynasty, almost no one is stopping the construction of railways.

However, the construction of the railway cost countless dollars. This is also a well-known fact. The railway built by the imperial court has raised money and grain from everywhere for money. Although it has not used the national treasury, this huge investment still makes Liu Both Jian and Li Dongyang felt distressed.

Your Majesty builds a car, just…

If so… This will solve a huge problem. The more money, the more railways can be built. Liu Jian even has selfish motives. He hopes that the railway can be built to Henan. Benefiting my hometown in Henan.

All of a sudden… Liu Jian began to dislike Chen Yan. He had long forgotten about this arrogant guy and couldn’t help but said: “Your Majesty, if this is the case, wouldn’t the imperial court be able to plan a few more routes?”

“Of course.” Zhu Houzhao He said excitedly: “I don’t need to say more about the benefits of the railway, Master Liu. This railway involves not only the stability of border towns, but also the national economy and people’s livelihood. I am the emperor, shouldn’t I worry about it?”

“Yes?” “Yes.” Liu Jian said hurriedly: “What your Majesty said is true.”

Zhu Houzhao then turned cold and said, “In that case, do you want to deal with this Chen Yan?”

“This…” Liu Jian started again. Embarrassed.

Of course, he already felt that Chen Yan was in the way, and even wished that Chen Yan would get away as far as he could. This guy who was not a rich man and didn’t know how much money he had but only talked about truth all the time was even more annoying.

But it was still difficult for Liu Jian to say it.

But at this moment, suddenly… someone said: “Your Majesty…”

The voice came from among the merchants.

Many people looked towards the source of the sound.

But among the merchants who prostrated themselves, some people kowtowed in the direction of Zhu Houzhao.

A mere businessman actually dared to speak out at this time.

Zhu Houzhao was not angry at all, but said deliberately: “This guy is so brave. What’s the matter?”

The merchant coughed and looked at Zhu Houzhao eagerly. He was a little nervous, but he still said tremblingly: “There is something wrong with the common people. I don’t know. Ask whether you should ask or not.”

Liu Jian and others frowned. They felt that this merchant was trying to challenge the emperor.

Zhu Houzhao calmed down and said, “Let me hear it.”

“The common people are wondering… I wonder if businessmen like me can build a private railway?” The businessman summoned up his courage and said suddenly.

As soon as this statement came out… everyone was in an uproar.

Some people actually want to build private railways…

The current railways are of course much cheaper to build than those in later generations. After all… the structures are also simple.

But this investment is still terrible.

Although his words were shocking, Zhu Houzhao became interested and cheered up: “You also want to build a railway?”

Faced with the question, the businessman hurriedly said: “Of course it can’t be done with the efforts of just a common man, but if a common man can do it, Use a part of the capital to raise shares, purchase a steam locomotive from Xishan, recruit craftsmen, and build it. I think there are not a few like-minded people like grassroots. When everyone adds firewood, the flames will be high. Of course, grassroots people can’t build it. A major artery, such as the railway from Tianjin Wei to a certain prefecture in Shandong, may not be affordable. What the common people do is buying and selling silk. The business they run is slightly larger, and the income and profits are considerable…”

He It seemed that he was eager to let Zhu Houzhao know that he had enough strength.

But at this moment… Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jianren and others all trembled and their eyes shone.

What they were concerned about was what the merchant said. The merchants spent their capital to build branch lines.

After all, the only thing the imperial court can build is the main artery. It may not be impossible to improve the branch lines in the future, but the problem is… By that time, we still don’t know the year of the monkey and the month of the horse.

But if merchants are allowed to raise funds for construction and wait for the railway to be completed, some problems may arise. For example, some merchants will try their best to increase freight rates when they see profits.

It’s just that in today’s world, what needs to be solved is not the question of good and bad, but the question of whether or not.

If this is the case, then in the future, countless gold and silver can be saved for the court. This…how much silver is involved.

Liu Jian was actually a little dizzy at this moment.

When the merchant asked, many people became interested and whispered among themselves. Some merchants said: “To build a road, the most important thing is to solve the current land problem. If there is no land, it will not be built. Most of the land in the world comes from the Western Mountains.” Qianzhuang, if Xishan Qianzhuang is allowed to be built and used… I don’t know if the court will be willing. “After all,

these merchants still have great trust in the new emperor and the Duke of Qi, so they are so bold.

Zhu Houzhao’s face suddenly flushed, but he looked at the merchant, and he had doubts in his heart: “Does the Qing family think that building the railway is profitable?”

The merchant quickly said: “The common people have just counted, with the current transportation capacity, plus The huge investment cost, if it is an ordinary line, and it can maintain a small profit every year, it will be considered good. But this small profit is better than being safe. If the railway is connected, you can just sit down and collect money. Of course, if you invest so much money just for this small profit. , It almost wiped out the wealth of the grassroots, and the grassroots absolutely dare not take the risk. “

This is the truth…

Zhu Houzhao nodded.

Everyone else pricked up their ears and listened carefully.

But then I heard this businessman say: “But… of course such a huge investment cannot be focused on the present. What the common people are looking at is ten or twenty years from now. Before… the common people did not have such awareness, but Today…it is precisely because of the appearance of new trains that ordinary people realize that the railway is a century-old project. It is certainly a small profit to build and operate it now, but ten years later, if the steam locomotive has been modified, by then, it will be operational. Can your Majesty do this this time? As long as the steam locomotive can speed up in the future, it will carry more and more goods, and the rewards brought by the same pot of coal will also be Bigger.”

“What the common people want to earn is money in ten, twenty, or thirty years!”

Merchants are just businessmen, and they are not trying to be mysterious.

After all, what some merchants invest in is the future. Today’s steam locomotives are speeding up, giving them a huge shock. If they can speed up today, how can they not be able to do it in the future? If you don’t make money now, in the future… maybe there will be a mountain of gold and silver.

The monarchs and ministers were all stunned and remained silent for a long time.

The exchange was extremely quiet as everyone was digesting these words, and some merchants were also tempted. And many ministers suddenly discovered that they seemed to have found a good recipe, a magical magic that could make the railway come into existence from scratch without the need for the court to raise gold and silver, just like a magic trick.

Liu Jian was overjoyed, but looked cautiously at the emperor and Fang Jifan.

He really wished that His Majesty and Duke Qi would agree quickly. As for… Chen Yan, this person is talking nonsense. If His Majesty hadn’t done his job properly, why would this pie fall from the sky today!

(End of chapter)